Rotatable bathroom fixture



Aug. 15, 1961 L. sHARPE ROTATABLE BATHRooM FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 9, 1959 FIG. z. [J ,40

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Aug- 15, 1961 L. sHARPE 1 2,996,346

ROTATABLE BATHROOM FIXTURE Filed NOV. 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Lou/S SHA @P5 A roeA/EY United States Patent 2,996,346 A ROTATABLE BATHROOM FIXTURE Y Louis Sharpe, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Franklin Brass Manufacturing Co., Los Angeles, Calif., a c'orporation of California Filed Nov. 9, '1959, Ser. No. 851,695 Claims. (Cl. 312-242) This invention relates to a rotatable bathroom fixture and, more particularly, to a rotatable bathroom fixture adapted to be maintained in flush relationship with the wall of a bathroom and to store certain articles such as toothbrushes, soap, toothpaste and the like out of sight unt-il the need for the use thereof arises.

The rotatable bathroom xture of my invention is characterized by the pnovision of a sheet metal housing adapted to be inserted in an opening in a bathroom wall, said housing having an open front adapted to be closed by a rotatable door disposable in one of two positions in which one or the other side, respectively, of the door is exposed to view. Operatively connected to the other side of the door are lirst and second mounting brackets adapted to support first and second shelves which receive toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and the like.

In prior art devices the door construction is usually fabricated by the utilization of a die casting process wherein various attachment bosses are formed on the other side of the door in order that the mounting brackets and the supporting pivot pins for the door may be secured thereto. It is extremely dicult to die cast a relatively large llat member such as the door of the rotatable bathroom lixture and there is a high incidence of unusable die castings which must be rejected because they are warped or not suiiciently uniform to permit incorporation thereof in the bathroom fixture construction.

In 'order to avoid the inherent disadvantages of prior art methods of constructing the door of the bathroom fixture, the door of the bathroom fixture of my invention is fabricated from a sheet metal stamping and the first and second mounting brackets are suitably aixed thereto by integral flanges at the upper and lower edges of the door. To facilitate the assembly of the door in operative relation ship with the associated housing, pivot pins are provided upon the rst and second mounting brackets for engagement with corresponding recesses in the housing. In addition, iirst and second shelves are located in the first and second mounting brackets and the rst shelf is maintained in operative relationship with the mounting bracket by detent means engageable upon corresponding portions of the rst mounting bracket.

By providing a device of the construction specified hereinabove, the over-all cost of manufacturing the bathroom fixture has been materially reduced and the operating characteristics thereof considerably enhanced.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings, which are for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a bathroom fixture constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the broken line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on the broken line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the broken line 4 4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the broken line 5 5 of FIG. 1;

FIG.' 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view takenI on the broken line 6 6 of FIG. 4;

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F'IG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on the broken line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective View of the complete door assembly incorporated in the bathroom fixture of the nvention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lower shelf; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a portion of the edge of the first shelf.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. l-Z thereof, I show a bathroom fixture 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention and including a sheet metal housing 1-2 which includes top and bottom walls 14 and 16, respectively, and a semi-circular side wall 18. The housing 12 includes an integral perimetrical liange 20 adapted to overlie the contiguous area of a wall 22 having an opening 24 therein in which the bathroom fixture 10 is mounted.

The side wall 18 includes a plurality of Ventilating openings 26 and the top wall 14 has a pivot pin receiving opening 28 therein adjacent the flange 20 and the front of the housing 12. A similar pivot pin receiving opening 30 is provided in the bottom wall 16 and is concentric with the opening 28 in the top wall 14.

The front of the housing 12 is open and a ilat, substantially rectangular door 32 is mounted in the open front of the housing 10 and is adapted, in a manner to be de-v scribed in greater detail below, to be rotated between a lirst position in which one side of the door is exposed to View and a second position -in which the Iother side of the door is exposed to view. 'The door 32 is formed from a sheet metal stamping and includes integral, right-angularly bent upper and lower lianges 34 and 36, respectively, at the upper and lower extremities thereof. Each of the flanges 34 and 36 overlies the other side of the door 32 and has an enlarged, central portion 38 and reduced side portions 40.

The upper flange 34 incorporates a plurality of screw receiving openings 42 and a pivot pin receiving opening 44 located intermediate said screw receiving openings. The screw receiving openings 42 are, as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, countersunk and are each adapted to receive the head of a fastening screw 46. Screwed to the central enlarged, portion 38 of the upper flange 34 is a die cast, rst mounting bracket 48 which overlies the other side of the door 32 and which has a central portion 50 underlying the right-angularly bent, integral upper flange 34. Formed integrally with the central portion is a bow S4 which supports a first shelf 56 in a manner to be described in greater detail below.

A pivot pin 58 formed integrally with the central portion 50 of the bracket 48 is adapted to engage in the opening 28 in the top wall 14 of the housing 12 and thus mount the upper portion of the door 32 for rotation relative to the housing 12. As best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the screws 46 threadedly engage in a transverse boss 60 formed on the upper extremity of the central portion 50 of the first mounting bracket 48. Therefore, the rst mounting bracket 48 depends from and is secured only to the flange 34 to maintain it in operative relationship with the door 32 and no iother means of connection of the rst mounting bracket 48 to the door 32 is needed. In this manner a sheet metal door 32 can be utilized in substitution for a more expensive die cast door.

The first shelf 56 has an over-all configuration corresponding to the configuration of the bow 54 and is formed from transparent or other types of plastic such as Lucite or the like. The perimetn'cal portion of the first shelf 56 has a depending ilan'ge 62 adapted to overlie Ithe corresponding portion of the bow 54 of the rst mounting bracket 48. The flange 62 serves to locate the first shelf 56 with respect to the bow 54. In addition, the first shelf 56 includes an integral detent member 64 adjacent the edge thereof adapted to engage aicorresponding lug k68 on the .bow 54, as best shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

To supplement the action of the detent member 64, the r'st shelf 56 .also includes a rearwardly extending, integral tongue 72 which, asbest shown inV FIGS. 2, and 4 -of vthe drawings, 4engages. the lower extremity ofY the lcentral portion 50 of the iirst mounting bracket 48 to prevent inadvertent displacement of the iirst shelf 56 from operative engagement with Vthe rst mounting bracket 48.

VInsertion of the lirst .shelf 56 in operative engagement with the lirst mounting bracket 48 entails the location of the tongue Y72. below the lower extremity of the central portion 50 of the iirst mounting bracket 48 and the proper location of the flange 62 on the irst shelf 56 with respect Vto the body of said mounting bracket. Downward move- -the apertur-es 76 or toothpaste from the receptacle 74,

the normal tendency of such removal lto dislocate the first shelf 56 from operative engagement with the rst mounting bracket 48 is eliminated. This is particularly important since, being fabricated from plastic, the first shelf '56 is light weight and would be easily displaceable from operative engagement with the rst mounting bracket 448.

In addition, during rotation of the door 32 with respect to the housing 12, the iirst shelf 56 is maintained in operative'relationship with the irst mounting bracket 48 ldespite the jarring to which it is subjected as the door 32 -s moved between its rst and second positions. It will benoted that the receptacle 74 lof the iirst shelf 56 has an enlarged opening 78 in one side thereof adapted to facilitate .the insertion or removal of a tube of toothpaste into or from `the receptacle 74.

Secured in overlying relationship with the lower ange 36 -is a second mounting bracket V80 of substantially semicircular contigui-ation which is formed from -a die casting Vor the like and which includes a plurality of depending, integral bosses 82. The outermost of said bosses are tapped for the reception of mounting screws 84 which extend upwardly through corresponding openings in the lower ange 36 to maintain the second bracket 80 in operative engagement and overlying relationship with the other -side of the door 32.

The centrally located boss 82 is, as best shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, provided with a through bore 86 for the lrecept-ion of an adjustable pivot pin 88 having a threaded portion 90 intermediate its extremities. The lower Aextremity of the pivot pin 88 is received in a bearing cup Y92 located in the opening 30 Vin the bottom wall 16 `of the housing 12. Therefore, the door 32 ,can be instal-led in operative relationship with the associated housing by the simple insertion of fthe upper pivot pin '58 on the iirst mounting bracket48 into the opening 28 in the top wall 14 and by threadedly engaging the intermediate Vthreaded portion 90 o f the pivot pin ,88 in the correspond- 'ingly vthreaded portion of Ythe lower flange 36 on the Vdoor 32.

Mounted on -the bottom wall 16 of the housing 12 is an upwardly directed pin 96 which constitutes locating Vdowrpout of engagement with the lugs 102 on the second mounting bracket '89 because the reduced portions `40 of the lower iiange underlie said retention springs. f'lherefore, when the door 32 is rotated into the second position, shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, wherein the mounting brackets 48 and 80 are exposed to view, the locating pin 96 is engaged by the retention spring 98 at the left hand side of the door 32, as viewed in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Conversely, when the door 32 is rotated into the rst position in which the smooth surface thereof is exposed to view the retention springs 98 will engage the locating pin 96 to maintain said door in closed position.

A second shelf is mounted in the second mounting bracket Si) and includes a depending portion 112, as best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, adapted to retain said second shelf in operative engagement with the mounting bracket 80. An angularly configured wall 114 defines a soap receptacle 116 which is adapted to maintain a bar of soap in upwardly inclined position within the receptacle 116 so that it may properly dry and drain therein. An auxiliary receptacle 120 is provided for the reception of soap fragments or the like.

Since the upper and lower anges 34 and 36 on the Vdoor 32 are of identical conguration the door 32 can be utilized in any orientation for the reception of the rst and second mounting brackets 48 and 80. Of course, once the orientation of the door 32 4has been established the differently spaced openings in the upper and lower flanges 34 and 36, respectively, must be formed therein for the reception of the appropriate fasteners and pivot pms.

By providing a bathroom iixture of the character described hereinabove, the visible fasteners customarily utilized in devices of the type under consideration are relegated to inconspicuous positions at the top of the upper flange 34 and at the bottom of the lower flange 36. Therefore, the undesirable protuberances and excrescenses Acharacteristic of prior art constructions are eliminated.

In addition, lthe relatively large mea door 32 can be formed as a stamping, eliminating the numerous rejects encountered when the door is fabricated by die casting techniques. Moreover, the pivot pins for the door are actually carried in the mounting brackets themselves and need not be Vfabricated as an integral part of the .door structure. The secure retention of the first shelf with respect to the iirst mounting bracket is assured by the .provision of interlocking means between said shelf and bracket.v The .retention springs adapted to engage the locating pin on the housing are actually maintained in operative relationship with the door by lugs provided on the second mounting bracket 80.

l claim:

l. In a bathroom fixture, the combination of: a housing having an open front; a door mounted in said housing and adapted to close said open front and movable between a `first position in which one side thereof is exposed to view and a second position in which the other side thereof is exposed to View, said door having upper and lower ilanges formed integrally therewith at the upper and lower extremities thereof; a tirs-t mounting bracket secured to said upper ange and depending downwardly into overlying relationship with said other side of said door, said first mounting .bracket having pivot pin means thereupon engageable with the adjacent portion of the upper extremity of said housing and a second mounting bracket secured to .said lower flange and extending upwardly'into overly-ing relationship with the other side of said door, said second mounting bracket having pivot pin means located therein and engageable with the adjacent portion of the lower extremity Aof said housing.

2. In a bathroom xture, the -combination of: a housing having an open front; a door mounted Iin said-housing and `adapted to close said open front and movable between a iirst position 4in which one side thereof is exposed to view and a second position in which the other side thereof is exposed -to view, said door having upper and lower. anges formed integrally therewith .at the upperand lower extremities thereof; a iirst mounting bracket secured to said upper flange and depending downwardly into overlying relationship with said other side of said door, said iirst mounting bracket having pivot pin means thereupon engageable with the adjacent portion of the upper extremity of said housing; and a second mounting bracket secured to said lower flange and extending upwardly into overlying relationship with the other side of said door, said second mounting bracket having pivot pin means located therein and engageable with the adjacent portion of the lower extremity of said housing, the pivot pin in one of said mounting brackets being adjustable to permit said door to be inserted into operative relationship with said housing.

3. In a bathroom fixture, the combination of: a housing having an open front: a door mounted in said housing for rotation between a iirst position in which one side of said door is exposed to view `and a second position in which the other side of said door is exposed to View, said door having right-angularly bent anges formed integrally therewith and located at the upper and lower extremities thereof; said fanges extending into overlying relationship with said other side of said door; a rst mounting bracket connected to the underside of said upper flange and depend-ing into overlying relationship with the other side of said door, said irst mounting bracket having a pvot pin thereupon engageable with the adjacent portion of said housing to pivotally support the upper extremity of said door; and a second mounting bracket connected in overlying relationship with said lower flange and extending into overlying relationship with said other side of said door, said second mounting bracket having va pivot pin thereupon engageable with the adjacent portion of said housing to pivotally mount the lower portion of said door.

4. In a bathroom xture, the combination of: a housing having an open front; ya door mounted in said housing for rotation between a rirst position in which one side of said door is exposed to View and a second position in which the other side yof said door s exposed to view, said door having right-angularly bent flanges formed integrally therewith and located at the upper and lower extremities thereof, said flanges extending into overlying relationship with said other side of said door; a first mounting bracket connected to the underside of said upper ange and depending into overlying relationship with the other side of said door, said first mounting bracket having a pivot pin thereupon engageable with the adjacent portion of said housing to pivotally support the upper extremity of said door; and a second mounting bracket connected in overlying relationship with said lower ange and extending into overlying relationship with said other side of said door, said second mounting bracket having a pivot pin thereupon engageable with the adjacent portion of said housing to pivotally mount ythe lower portion of said door, said pivot pin in said lower mounting bracket being adjustable with respect to said bracket 4and said housing to facilitate the insertion of said pivot pin in operative relationship with said housing.

5. In a bathroom fixture, the combination of: a housi-ng having an open front with locating means positioned in said open front; a door mounted in said housing for rotation between a rst position in which one side of said door is exposed to view Iand a second position in which the other side of said door is exposed to View, said door having right-angularly bent `flanges formed integrally therewith and located at the upper and lower extremities thereof; a first mounting bracket connected to the underside of said upper ange and depending into overlying relationship with the other side of said door, said first mounting bracket having a pivot pin thereupon engageable with the adjacent portion of said housing to pivotally support the upper extremity of said door; a second mounting bracket connected in overlying relationship with said lower flange and extending into overlying relationship with said other side of said door, said second mounting bracket having a pivot pin thereupon engageable with the adjacent portion of said housing to pivotally mount the lower portion of said door; Iand retention means secured in operative relationship with said ldoor by said second mounting bracket and said lower flange and engageable with said locating means .to maintain said door in either its first or second position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 836,106 Feldkircher Nov. 20, 1906 2,039,065 De Mark Apr. 28, 1936 2,576,526 Marchand -a Nov. 27, 1951 2,577,011 Hallenscheid Dec. 4, `:1 2,588,258 Lowman Mar. 4, 1952 2,790,692 Sharpe Apr. 30, 1957 2,794,698 Chamberlin June 4, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 510,968 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1939 

